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Topic: Fort William 1000 (Read 3858 times)

I'd like to introduce the Fort William 1000 being held over the weekend of 05 - 08 July 2019. A few brief details:

Starting and finishing in the Lancashire seaside town of Lytham St. Anne's, the route heads north to Carlisle and into Scotland, to a control at Paisley at roughly 300 km where food/sleep arrangements are being made. There's a drop-bag to Paisley.

The route then follows a 400 km loop around central Scotland, passing through, or close to Inveraray; Oban; Fort William and Glen Coe before returning to Paisley at about 700 km.

The 300 km south-bound route from Paisley back to Lytham is the exact reverse of the north-bound route.

Entry fee of £57.40 includes, but not limited to:

Brevet card with detailed route-sheet3rd party insurance for UK-based participantsBreakfast on the morning of the event (Friday 05 July 2019)Basic sleeping facilities; showers; food & drink at the Paisley control (roughly 300km & 700 km)Bag drop from Lytham to PaisleyBreakfast on the morning after the event (Monday 08 July 2019)Validation with AUK & ACP for successful ridersCommemorative water-bottle & medalAny photograph's taken by the organiser during the event

There likely be a commemorative event cycling jersey available for purchase (typically £40 each) in the new year.

1000 km not enough?

If 1000 km isn't enough for you then you can perhaps try your hand at the Inverness 1200 which is being run con-currently. Both events start and finish at Lytham at the same time and more or less follow the same route to and from Fort William (see other YACF post for further information). Both events are run at the same speeds (13.3 - 30 kph).

Transfer of entries:

If, after you've already entered you decide you'd prefer to ride the Inverness 1200 instead, we'll transfer your entry from one event to the other free of charge up to anytime prior to the event start time (subject to the completion of a little bit more paperwork obtainable from the organiser).

Transfers won't be allowed after the event has started as this is against the original Audax ethos.

This is very tempting, especially since I've been wanting to explore Scotland by bike. I'm checking right now if I don't have any obligations at work in this period

Was about to say something along the lines of "Paisley to Fort Bill will be in darkness"; then I realized it's 2 weeks after the Solstice; choose your sleeping times wisely and you won't need lights to see with. Or if you're like me, Bring a dark buff to act as a multi function blindfold.

Was about to say something along the lines of "Paisley to Fort Bill will be in darkness"; then I realized it's 2 weeks after the Solstice; choose your sleeping times wisely and you won't need lights to see with. Or if you're like me, Bring a dark buff to act as a multi function blindfold.

I checked the sunset times in Fort Williams early July and it seems to be properly dark from 11:15pm to 3:30am. Since I'm not a full value rider: 300 on Friday, sleep/shower/eat from 11:15pm to 3:30am, 400 on Saturday, sleep/shower/eat from 11:15pm to 3:30am, finish the remaining 300 on Sunday? Probably way too optimistic, but I'm sure I get to enjoy some of the scenery ;-)

Was about to say something along the lines of "Paisley to Fort Bill will be in darkness"; then I realized it's 2 weeks after the Solstice; choose your sleeping times wisely and you won't need lights to see with. Or if you're like me, Bring a dark buff to act as a multi function blindfold.

I checked the sunset times in Fort Williams early July and it seems to be properly dark from 11:15pm to 3:30am. Since I'm not a full value rider: 300 on Friday, sleep/shower/eat from 11:15pm to 3:30am, 400 on Saturday, sleep/shower/eat from 11:15pm to 3:30am, finish the remaining 300 on Sunday? Probably way too optimistic, but I'm sure I get to enjoy some of the scenery ;-)

Depends what you consider proper darkness

There's no night time or Astronomical twilight at that time of year, and if there's no clouds there's 4 hours of Nautical twilight and only 2 hrs 15 of Civil, .So basically the sky will only be properly dark if there is heavy cloud cover; as your eyes adjust there would be enough light to see by without a torch.

I've twice made the mistake of not taking something to cover my eyes while camping; once was early-may at Sheildaig when on thinking "it should be getting dark soon" I looked at my watch and realized it was 2am and was only going to get lighter.and the second time was before the 400k I did at the end of July in Gala

Your timing plans fit with the darkest part of the day though; my problem with following the same plan is that it's too early for me to fall asleep unless I'm properly knackered.

There's no night time or Astronomical twilight at that time of year, and if there's no clouds there's 4 hours of Nautical twilight and only 2 hrs 15 of Civil, .So basically the sky will only be properly dark if there is heavy cloud cover; as your eyes adjust there would be enough light to see by without a torch.

I don't disagree with your facts, but your conclusions are rather glass half-empty

The problem only exists if it's a lovely clear night - well I for one will be praying for such a thing. I'd rather deal with the "problem" you describe above than riding through a night of pishing* rain!

*(have I got the vernacular right? )

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Has never ridden RAAM---------No.11 Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

There's no night time or Astronomical twilight at that time of year, and if there's no clouds there's 4 hours of Nautical twilight and only 2 hrs 15 of Civil, .So basically the sky will only be properly dark if there is heavy cloud cover; as your eyes adjust there would be enough light to see by without a torch.

I don't disagree with your facts, but your conclusions are rather glass half-empty

The problem only exists if it's a lovely clear night - well I for one will be praying for such a thing. I'd rather deal with the "problem" you describe above than riding through a night of pishing* rain!

*(have I got the vernacular right? )

Oh I too hope for a good clear night particularly given I'm a night owl; maybe being from the "dry" part of Scotland is where my half empty glass comes from.Yes you have the venacular right.

I checked the sunset times in Fort Williams early July and it seems to be properly dark from 11:15pm to 3:30am. Since I'm not a full value rider: 300 on Friday, sleep/shower/eat from 11:15pm to 3:30am, 400 on Saturday, sleep/shower/eat from 11:15pm to 3:30am, finish the remaining 300 on Sunday? Probably way too optimistic, but I'm sure I get to enjoy some of the scenery ;-)

"I have been thinking about the 1000. Where would the sleep be on the second day?"

Plans and organisation is underway for a second control in the Fort William area, serving both events!Andy Corless

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28889542?beta=falseLytham St Anne's > Paisley 320km (D1 0800-0100)Paisley > Fort William 212km (D2 0500-1600)Fort William > Crianlarich (82km)(and same to Paisley)Paisley > finish 320km ?Assumes 19kph average during D1 and D2 riding.To finish in 75 hours so by 1100 D4.Time in hand = ? hours"I have been thinking about the 1000. Where would the sleep be on the second day?"You'd need (and want) to press on after eating at Fort William. Crianlarich (with its YH) is 82km from Fort William (which would make a (short) 294km day. @Phil W might advocate the heated waiting rooms at Tyndrum/Crianlarich (last train gone by 2200).And if a rider (on the 1000) wished to stop 'overnight' to sleep at the end of Day 3, then Kendal (http://www.kendalhostel.com/) is 82km from the finish (328km from Crianlarich)Trying to do the loop from Paisley up to Fort William and back in one go is a strong shout but doable (382km from a (say) 5am start) - no doubt some will do it.Sunset 2202/sunrise 0441/moon: http://app.photoephemeris.com/?ll=55.831730,-4.432540&center=55.8317,-4.4325&z=18&spn=0.00,0.00&dt=20190706222900%2B0100

[...]https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28889542?beta=falseLytham St Anne's > Paisley 320km (D1 0800-0100)Paisley > Fort William 212km (D2 0500-1600)Fort William > Crianlarich (82km)(and same to Paisley)Paisley > finish 320km ?Assumes 19kph average during D1 and D2 riding.To finish in 75 hours so by 1100 D4.Time in hand = ? hours"I have been thinking about the 1000. Where would the sleep be on the second day?"You'd need (and want) to press on after eating at Fort William. Crianlarich (with its YH) is 82km from Fort William (which would make a (short) 294km day. @Phil W might advocate the heated waiting rooms at Tyndrum/Crianlarich (last train gone by 2200).And if a rider (on the 1000) wished to stop 'overnight' to sleep at the end of Day 3, then Kendal (http://www.kendalhostel.com/) is 82km from the finish (328km from Crianlarich)Trying to do the loop from Paisley up to Fort William and back in one go is a strong shout but doable (382km from a (say) 5am start) - no doubt some will do it.Sunset 2202/sunrise 0441/moon: http://app.photoephemeris.com/?ll=55.831730,-4.432540&center=55.8317,-4.4325&z=18&spn=0.00,0.00&dt=20190706222900%2B0100

Thanks for the potential place to crash along the route. It seems like a pretty flat course, so the loop from Paisley up to Fort William and back in one go (on day 2) still seems very doable

Anyway, I booked the ferry to Newcastle. Just hoping I won't need to apply for a visa after brexit...

Done a bit of spreadsheeting and google mappingLytham St Annes (Scout centre), Hackthorpe (Lowther hall), Gretna (services), Abington (Services) and Carnforth (Truckhaven) have known/likely control locations.Inverary and Crianlarich the size of them makes limited difference to where you go in themThe rest are just where Google thinks the place is... which in some places could be halfway up the adjacent mountainside (Lochearnhead is bad for that one!)I've not included the extra 6km to go via Helensburgh to Inverary, though looking at the route options, there's a nice looking tarred NCN path from Bowling to Dumbarton

Of course the Rest and Be Thankfull hillside being rather unstable could still screw everything up at the last minute.

Location

km

opens (30kmh)

closes (13.3kmh)

at 14kmh

at 15kmh

at 17kmh

at 18kmh

at 19kmh

at 20kmh

at 25kmh

Lytham St Annes

0

08:00

08:00

08:00

08:00

08:00

08:00

08:00

08:00

08:00

Hackthorpe

112

11:44

16:25

16:00

15:28

14:35

14:13

13:53

13:36

12:28

Gretna Green

168

13:36

20:37

20:00

19:12

17:52

17:20

16:50

16:24

14:43

Abington

245

16:10

02:25

01:30

00:20

22:24

21:36

20:53

20:15

17:48

Paisley

305 - Google says 314

18:10

06:55

05:47

04:20

01:56

00:56

00:03

23:15

20:12

Inverary

404

21:28

14:22

12:51

10:56

07:45

06:26

05:15

04:12

00:09

Oban

464

23:28

18:53

17:08

14:56

11:17

09:46

08:25

07:12

02:33

Fort William

533

01:46

00:04

22:04

19:32

15:21

13:36

12:03

10:39

05:19

Crianlarich

615

04:30

06:14

03:55

01:00

20:10

18:10

16:22

14:45

08:36

Paisley

705-google says 693

07:30

13:00

10:21

07:00

01:28

23:10

21:06

19:15

12:12

Abington

775

09:50

18:16

15:21

11:40

05:35

03:03

00:47

22:45

15:00

Gretna Green

851

12:22

23:59

20:47

16:44

10:03

07:16

04:47

02:33

18:02

Carnforth

964

16:08

08:28

04:51

00:16

16:42

13:33

10:44

08:12

22:33

Lytham StAnnes

1002-google says 1018

17:24

11:20

07:34

02:48

18:56

15:40

12:44

10:06

00:04

Not too bad timing for the roll through Glasgow, the eejits will hopefully still be swallying in the pubs and not spilled out into the streets until midnight.

Inverary (assuming control in town and unmanned) is dependent on RBS not shutting the Bank and ATM in Church Square. (a tad hidden) or the ticket machine in the Vital Spark car park having enough info on them if you've cracked on from Paisley, if you're fast enough a comfy bed at the hostel may even be doable.

Decent timing for slower averages for doing Ballaculish -> Fort Bill -> Crianlarich;Should be a lot less traffic heading into the fort on a Saturday night from the Glen Coe end that what is escaping the drearyness of the Fort at night.And return back to Ballachulish can easily be after that, which sets you up nicely for a late night climb up through glen coe and onto the muir.

Crianlarich, (again assuming an unmanned control) my snooping around tryin to work out how to avoid being on the A82 in the middle of the day for doing the Twilight 600 Perm there is absolutely nothing at night for controling with.Nae parking charges, no outdoor ATM, no ticket machine at the station, probably no even polis in the office.

Then should be an early morning spin down the loch to Renfrewshire for another airbed snooze.

Talking of going through Glasgow, isn't the shortest and easiest route across the Clyde by skirting the airport then across the Erskine bridge, or even depending on timing to get the ferry across at Renfrew (if it's still running)?

Not doing this event but from a Weegie point of view, If the controls are Paisley then Inverary, I would be thinking about jumping on the great & well surfaced tarmac cycle track at Paisley, it is then flatish & sign posted all the way to Gourock where i'd get the ferry from McInroys point over to Hunters Quay, ride up the side of Loch Eck and on to Inverary that way. It's keeps you away from the A82 or the shit cycle path that runs along side it and also the very busy climb over the Rest n B road.

The Loch Long option is only 6km more, you do have to join the A83 at Arrochar but once the road starts climbing you can duck onto the Hillclimb Track (unless of course Transport Scotland are running a convoy system on it) with only a couple of gates in the way if you don't want to stick to the main road.

I rode the 3 sides of the rest on a busy windy day a few years back, the descents were fine in the traffic except for hanging back on the descent to cairndow due to buffeting, decided to use the "old military road" for the last climb rather than the main road though.

All that talk about routes is very interesting, but as a rider from the continent (where mandatory routes are the custom) this is a bit confusing. Are you anticipating that the advisory route that Andy will publish is so bad that these alternative routes are a necessity? Or is this just finetuning?

Also: if a control is in a place where it is impossible to get a receipt in the middle of the night, then a selfie with the town sign or, even better, a local building with a clock is allowed, I guess? At least, that's what we do over here when there is a free control.

All that talk about routes is very interesting, but as a rider from the continent (where mandatory routes are the custom) this is a bit confusing. Are you anticipating that the advisory route that Andy will publish is so bad that these alternative routes are a necessity? Or is this just finetuning?

Also: if a control is in a place where it is impossible to get a receipt in the middle of the night, then a selfie with the town sign or, even better, a local building with a clock is allowed, I guess? At least, that's what we do over here when there is a free control.

For UK riders, it's often part of the "fun" to look at different options. It's very rare for an organiser to create something bad enough that riders later regret not doing their own research!

I've only done one of Andy's rides, but I'd say he has a good reputation for competent planning.

LIkewise, it's the convention for UK organisers to provide good instructions for getting "proof-of-passage", whatever their speed.

Best to either ignore these posts, or just read with a cautious eye until much closer to Le Depart. Unless you enjoy joining in with the route-planning

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Has never ridden RAAM---------No.11 Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

The majority of the route is in Scotland and in Summer, the optimal route is a combination of:1) The Midgie count2) The Weather Forecast3) The Tourist count4) The time of day or twilight (there is no Night...)

The Dunoon route if timing allows is probably the most adventurous and interesting.

So actually it's not too badMarine Traffic says that "Sound of Soay" averaged 10kn today so just over 18kmh for the 4.5km of the ferry route, which reduces the distance under your own steam to 93.3km; but then you could be waiting a while for the ferry.

Kilcreggan ferry takes 15 minutes for 2.7km so also around the 18kmh mark before including waiting time..

I may need to take a recce of the Loch Lomond cyclepath to see if it's as bad as WTCD says as I remember it being OK between Alexandria and the turn off for Helensburgh.